UN Boosts Tajikistan, Uzbekistan with High-Tech Gear against Terror and Arms Trafficking

DID Press: UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), with financial support from the Government of Canada, delivered advanced ballistic equipment and information technology systems to the ministries of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to bolster efforts against arms trafficking and terrorist crimes.

On 26 November 2025, Tajikistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs received state-of-the-art digital microscopes for ballistic examination. These systems allow precise analysis of bullets and casings, trace weapons used in criminal and terrorist acts, and form the foundation for developing a national ballistic information system.

Tajikistan’s Ministry emphasized the importance of continued cooperation with UNODC and UNOCT to modernize ballistic laboratories, expand data storage capabilities, and enhance the expertise of forensic specialists.

Additionally, on 12 December 2025, modern information technology equipment was delivered to the Forensic Science Center of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs to strengthen the operational and analytical capacities of its ballistic laboratory. This initiative improves the quality and accuracy of forensic examinations and enhances international collaboration in combating illicit arms trade.

The initiative is part of a joint United Nations project aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorism and crime, preventing the illegal trafficking of small arms, and stopping their transfer to terrorist groups.